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THANKSGIVING IN CANADA

© Mary M. Alward

In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October. The history of Canadian Thanksgiving has been influenced mainly by three older traditions.

European farmers held celebrations in the fall to give thanks for a bountiful harvest and the abundance of food it provided over the winter months. They filled a hollow, curved goat's horn with food and grain. This adorned the thanksgiving table. This was known as a cornucopia or horn of plenty.

When Europeans immigrated to Canada, they brought this tradition with them. It is believed this was a great influence on the way we celebrate Thanksgiving today.

Another influence came from English navigator Martin Frobisher, for whom Canada's Frobisher Bay is named. In 1578, Frobisher landed on what is now known as the province of Newfoundland off Canada's East Coast. He held a celebration of thanksgiving for surviving his journey to the New World. Later, settlers continued to celebrate the thanksgiving feast.

The third influence occurred in 1621, when the Pilgrims of the United States gave thanks for their first harvest in the New World. In 1750, American settlers who immigrated to Candada brought the tradition to Nova Scotia. Ath the same time, French settlers were enjoying feasts of Thanksgiving.

In 1859, Canadian Parliament declared Nov 6 a national holiday of Thanksgiving. Over the years the date of Thanksgiving continued to change. On January 31, 1957, Parliament proclaimed, "The second Monday in October will be a day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed."

The United States doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving until the fourth Thursday of November. This was a declaration made by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.

When you think of the difference in dates, it makes perfect sense. Canada has a shorter growing season than the United States, so of course we are giving thanks for a bountiful harvest earlier in the year.

Canada has many different Thanksgiving traditions but most all meals include a roasted turkey. Usually, the turkey is stuffed with breadcrumbs to which apples, sage, onion and walnuts have been added.

Years ago, wild turkey or pheasant was served at the traditional Thanksgiving meal. That is because the men of the household went hunting for the meat for the traditional dinner. The main course consisted of corn, potatoes, turnip, squash and other vegetables from the family garden. Today, most families still serve these vegetables, either from their own gardens or purchased from the local produce store or farmer's market. Desert still consists of the traditional Pumpkin pie and often this is accompanied by fresh apple cider, which was also served on Thanksgiving tables many years ago.

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